NEW GLARUS — The Glarner Knights open the 2020-21 season with a mix of uncertainty and optimism. 

A season ago, New Glarus finished 5-5 in the Capitol South and 13-11 overall, but graduated two key players — all conference forward Lily Himmelmann and team defensive player of the year in guard Brooke Watrud. There is also a regime change this year, with Kevin Parman taking the reins. Parman has 20 years of experience coaching, eight of which as a head coach with a 99-50 overall record.

“Our goal is to be top-two of our conference and build on last year’s success,” Parman said. Belleville and Cambridge, the two schools tied with New Glarus for second place last year in league play, return talent but have decisions to make about holding a season due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Three-time defending champion Marshall has won two state titles in the last three years and returns the top two players in the conference — all-state selections Anna Lutz and Laura Nickel. Lutz, a 6-1 senior, averaged a league-high 23 points per game last season and is committed to play at UW-Milwaukee. Nickel, a 6-foot senior, averaged 15.6 points per game and will play at Northern Illinois next year.

The Knights also bring back one of the premier players in the league. Senior Jaylynn Benson averaged 17.7 points per game last year — second most in the Capitol South. She was a first-team all-conference pick and has interest from both Ripon College and Lakeland College. In the 2020-21 season-opening 61-19 win over Darlington Nov. 24, Benson became the sixth player in program history to reach 1,000 career points. Benson reached the mark early in the second half on a jumper in the lane. She finished the game with 12 points.

Other returning players include senior Shealyn Klosterman-Havens (6.0 ppg), juniors Ellie Eichelkraut (6.0 ppg), Emma Marty (4.9 ppg), Peyton Yaun and Morgan Thompson. Klosterman-Havens had a team-high 13 points and three 3-pointers in the win over Darlington, while Marty had 9 points on three 3s. New Glarus led 30-5 at halftime and finished with 25 total baskets, including 10 from beyond the arc.

Newcomers include sophomores Grace Nommensen and Alex Atwell, and freshman guard Lindsey Schadewalt, “who can knock down shots anywhere on the court,” Parman said. Schadewalt had 10 points in her first career game. 

Parman said the team’s greatest strengths lie in in its speed and depth, however, consistent scoring and finding balance on the court are areas of concern.